Randall's Island
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1969-70) - Terry Adams -- keyboards - Paul Fleisher -- sax and flute - Allen Herman -- drums - Andy Muson -- bass - Phillip Namanworth -- keyboards - Bob Piazza -- bass - Elliott Randall -- lead guitar
line up 2 (1972-73) - Allen Herman -- drums, percussion NEW - Gary King -- bass, vocals (replaced Bob Piazza) - Paul Fleisher -- sax and flute NEW - Pot -- vocals, keyboards (replaced Terry Adams and Phillip Namanworth) - Elliott Randall -- lead guitar, backing vocals
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- Joe Byrd and the Field Hippies (Philip Namanworth) - The Druids of Stonehenge (Elliott Randall) - Grinder's Switch (Bob Piazza) - Eric Mercury's BIrthright (Paul Fleisher) - Seatrain (Elliott Randall) - Sha Na Na (Elliott Randall) - Ten Wheel Drive (Allen Herman and Bob Piazza) - Tingling Mother's Circus (Elliott Randall) - Dave Van Ronk (Namanworth and Pot)
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Elliott's Island Company: Polydor Catalog: 2489-004 Country/State: New York, Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: minor ring and edge wear; promo sticker on cover; white promo label Available: 1 GEMM catalog ID: 5 Price: $20.00
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Elliott Randall's may be rock's most overlooked guitarist. If you recognize him, there's a good chance it will be a result of his affiliation with Steely Dan. Though he's played on quite a bit of their catalog he's never been an official member of the band, his most widely known contribution to the Dan's legacy remains the lead guitar on 'Reelin' In the Years'. Part of the blame for that lack of widespread recognition rests on his Randall's shoulders - he's repeatedly made career choices that led away from the commercial spotlight, turning down full memberships in a number of bands that would have resulted in major public exposure (Sha Na Na, Steely Dan, and Toto to name a couple of missed opportunities).
By the time Randall formed Randall's Island in 1969 he was a seasoned professional having spent the last seven years working as a music teacher, a sessions player, a staff musician (for the New York-based Musicor label), along with stints in bands including The Druids of Stonehenge (reportedly), Seatrain, Sha Na Na, and Tingling Mother's Circus.
Signed by Polydor, Randall's Island mark I featured the talents of NRBQ keyboardist Terry Adams, ex-Eric Mercury's Birthright sax player Paul Fleisher, Ten Wheel Drive drummer Allen Herman, bassist Andy Muson, keyboardist Phillip Namanworth, and bassist Bob Piazza (also ex-Ten Wheel Drive).
Elliott's
comment: What a strange and interesting crew this was! Paul
Fleisher and I played together beginning in the early-mid 60's in NYC
niteclubs including Trude Heller's, The
Peppermint Lounge, and The Metropole. He
and I co-authored the entire record. I'd known Allen Herman & Bob
Piazza for quite a while too - before they joined The Island,
they were members of Genya Ravan's R&B
supergroup Ten Wheel Drive. Phillip
Namanworth had been playing with Dave Van Ronk
& The Hudson Dusters, and brought with him a boogie-thing that
was just too contagious! Terry Adams of NRBQ
guested on Hammond
Polydor also tapped the album for a pair of singles, though I'm not sure if both saw stock releases:
' 1970's 'All I Am's b/w 'Life In A Botanical Gardens' (Polydor catalog number PD-14054)
For hardcore fans, Polydor also released the album in a promotion package. Same songs, but different cover art. I have no idea why, but it's easier to find the promo album than an original copy.
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Rock and Roll City Company: Polydor Catalog: PD-5026 Country/State: New York, Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: minor ring and edge wear; promo sticker on cover; white promo label Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5765 Price: $20.00
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After a three year break during which time Elliott Randall and much of the group paid their bills working as part of the pit band for the Broadway production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" they returned to the studio to record a sophomore LP. Produced by Marc Pressel, 1973's "Rock and Roll City" was all over the musical spectrum making it easy to see how Polydor management didn't have a clue with respect to how to market the band. To be honest, Randall and company simply didn't seem to know what they wanted to be - BS&T-styled jazz rockers, guitar dominated rock band, pop outfit, etc. etc. The end result was that they came off as talented, but hopelessly ill-focused. I guess diverse would be the term of art, but then most folks don't buy albums because they're diverse.
- The title track was a decent county-rock number that suffered from a slightly flat vocal from keyboardist Pot (yeah that was how he was listed in the liner notes). The life's-tough-on-the-road lyric also wasn't the year's most original concept ... - In spite of it's pseudo-jazzy vibe (echoes of Randall's Steely Dan dates), 'Neon New York' was a surprisingly enjoyable track and perhaps the standout performance. It also sported a fantastic Randall solo - his Strat is instantly recognizable. - 'Oil On the Water' was a straightforward blues number. Clocking in at over seven minutes the track was apparently envisioned as an opportunity to spotlight each member. That really wasn't necessary. though Randall turned in another top notch solo. Okay, okay I'm not a big sax fan but Fleisher turned in a nifty performance on this one. - 'Enuf Is Enuf'' was the band's stab at a commercial rock song. Not to be snarky, but this one made it clear that Randall's forte was the guitar and not singing. True, I've heard far worse, but the combination of Randall and Pot was best described as an acquired taste. - 'Brer' Fox Boogie' came off as a big band boogie number. Even Randall's hot lead guitar was largely lost amidst the juke joint keyboard and horn arrangements. Not something I particularly enjoyed. Alright, Gary King turned in a devastating bass solo on this one. - Featuring Gary King on lead vocals (I'd say he was the strongest vocalist in the band), 'One Day At a Time' was also the most pop-oriented and commercial song on the album. Elsewhere it was short, but Randall turned in a nice solo on this one, including that scratchy rhythm sound that would become so popular on disco songs. - Well, 'Earth and Water' was pretty in a jazzy, new-age-ish kind of way, but didn't do a great deal for me. - Back to a bluesy rock genre, though 'Surrender Your Agenda' was nothing more than pedestrian. Too much horn and keyboard, too little guitar, though it probably would have been okay in a live setting. - In a band set up as a democracy you need to give everyone a shot. Written by Paul Fleisher (he also handled the lead vocals), 'Kangaru' was an argument that band's should not be democratic organizations. Horrible effort to be cute and funny. No amount of beer could save this one. - Thankfully the Randall-penned instrumental 'Prediscovery' opened up with some fine lead guitar. I'm normally not a gigantic instrumental fan, but after the last couple of turkeys it was a breath of fresh air. - 'King Kongquistador' seemed to owe more than a little to Procol Harum. The song shared the same kind of pompous, blow-hard air that propelled 'A Whiter Shade of Pale'. Unfortunately this song was far less impressive. Hideously out of tune group vocals and a deeply irritating piccolo didn't help matters.
Since only about half of it was listenable call it an interesting side project ...
"Rock and
Roll City" track listing: 1.) Rock and Roll City (Pot) - 2:58 2.) Neon New York (Elliott Randall - Pat Fliesher) - 3:49 3.) Oil On the Water (Pot) - 7:11 4.) Enuf Is Enuf (Benjamin - Pot) - 3:45 5.) Brer' Fox Boogie (Pot) - 4:34 6.) One Day At a Time (Allen Herman - Elliott Randall - Pot) - 2:10
(side
2) 2.) Surrender Your Agenda (Pat Fleisher - Pit) - 3:24 3.) Kangaru (Paul Fleisher) - 3:54 4.) Prediscovery (instrumental) (Elliott Randall) - 5:02 5.) King Kongquistador (Paul Fleisher - Elliott Randall) - 5:44
Though it barely makes mention of Randall's Island, Randall has a small website at: http://www.elliott-randall.com/
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